BRANSON FACES URBAN PAINS AS PART OF ITS SUCCESS STORY

There are few Cinderella stories like the one about how a small, Ozarks-bound town with one winding road, a couple of motels and a reputation based on a book of fiction became the new mecca of country-western entertainment and began building multimillion-dollar performance palaces, not to mention a new airport, new highways and new hotels.

This newfound, star-studded glitz didn't happen overnight for Branson, which has become all the rave for entertainers from Nashville, Las Vegas and Hollywood. Many big-name stars have taken such a liking to the wooded hills that they have built homes nearby.

Once upon a time, Branson was a sleepy town that offered overnight accommodations for anyone interested in trout fishing at Lake Taneycomo. Then someone realized there were tourists who would spend money on a visit to a log cabin popularized in the novel "Shepherd of the Hills." Next was a theme park, and then entertainers tapped into the free-spending folks who like to go have a good time for a night or two at a time where there is good entertainment.

Who would ever have thought little old Branson would one day rival Nashville as the center of country/western music? But Branson is bigger than country music. Big-name favorites have revived their careers by building theaters in Branson where thousands flock year around for a good time.

But it hasn't been all roses for Branson. When there are millions of dollars involved, it is hard to maintain harmony.

First there were questions about the new buildings that have been built, about whether they were safe for the hordes of fun-seekers. Then there were questions about the air quality, due to the massive traffic jams that still occur along the entertainment strip.

A lot of charges and countercharges have been exchanged as tempers have flared in Branson. Recently, two state-sponsored studies indicated that there is good news and not-so-good news.

A study by the Department of Natural Resources shows that the air quality in Branson is acceptable, despite the traffic tie-ups. This is a credit to air-emission standards on American automobiles more than anything else. It seems unleaded fuel and catalytic converters work.

Another study by a governor-appointed panel concluded that the town is facing up to the need for better building codes and inspections, but the panelists said there is considerably more that Branson could do in that regard. Questions remain about whether complying with existing codes is enough to guarantee safety. The fact is, none of the new theaters or hotels has fallen down yet -- like the tragic Hyatt hotel disaster a few years ago in Kansas City, which had strict building codes.

Meanwhile, Branson continues to be the destination of choice for folks from all over the country. As many as 6 million visitors are expected to go to the little town in the Ozarks this year. That is quite an accomplishment for any town anywhere.